July 19 - 25, 2013
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996 • nwobserver.com •
Candidate pool continues to grow Six more candidates file for local council seats by MIKE SHAW and PATTI STOKES NW GUILFORD – With three days left before the filing deadline at noon on July 19, six more candidates have filed for town council seats in Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale, bringing the total number of candidates thus far to 11. Stokesdale Town Council member Randy Braswell held a “Social Media Event” on July 11 at the Stokesdale Town Hall, where he announced in front of about 20 supporters that he’s running for mayor. Braswell will join Mike Tatum in the race for the mayor’s seat.
The mayor’s seat is currently held by Randle Jones, who has served as the town’s mayor for almost 18 of the nearly 22 years he has been on the Stokesdale Town Council. Jones confirmed he will not run for re-election in November. Braswell, 53, has served on the Stokesdale Town Council since 2011, when he was elected along with two other first-time council members, Frank Bruno and Bill Jones. Braswell and his family have lived in Stokesdale since 1980. “My vision for Stokesdale is community,” Braswell said. “When I ran the first time, I just wanted to see the community
come together. I’d love the community to come together and see a 50-year vision.” Braswell has learned a lot from Mayor Randle Jones during his time on town council, he says, while acknowledging he still has a lot to learn. He says that sitting on the council is “a lot different” than reading about the meetings at home, and adds that he met many citizens when he ran for a council seat two years ago and he’s excited about meeting many more. Stokesdale citizen and businessman Gary Albert filed July
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Left to right: Randy Braswell, candidate for Stokesdale mayor; Gary Albert, candidate for Stokesdale Town Council; Danny Yanusz, candidate for Oak Ridge Town Council; Dianne Laughlin and Mike Adams, candidates for Summerfield Town Council. Not shown: Rich Lipinski, also a candidate for Summerfield Town Council.
IN THIS ISSUE News in Brief ............................................................ 3 Your Questions ........................................................ 4 Community Calendar............................................ 8 Biz Notes • Bits & Pieces ...................................... 10 Summerfield Town Council .................................. 12 Crime/Incident Report ......................................... 14 Opinions/Your Letters • Grins & Gripes .............. 16 Classifieds ............................................................. 18 Index of Advertisers ............................................. 23
Council battles over committee appointees After a 3-2 vote, Trails and Open Space Committee gets underway by MIKE SHAW SUMMERFIELD – Following a heated discussion at its July 9 meeting, the Summerfield Town Council ultimately voted to approve an ordinance establishing a trails and open space committee, and to appoint nine committee members. Per the ordinance, the committee was established to provide citizen representation, support the town leadership’s decisionmaking regarding trails and open space, improve
connectivity among neighborhoods and amenities, enhance recreational opportunities and address related policy areas within the 2010 Summerfield Comprehensive plan. “The idea of Summerfield trails isn’t new,” Town Manager Scott Whitaker wrote in a February memo to committee applicants. “Residents have indicated a preference for enhanced recreational opportunities and connection to neigh-
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